Chapter 1

Katherine's POV

If anyone had told me that one day, I'd be betrayed and replaced by my own husband. I would have fought them in his defense, probably beat them up to a pup, because I loved my husband so much and I trusted him with all my heart.

I loved him enough to settle down as a housewife, allowed for a surrogate mother because I couldn't bear his heir. I did whatever he told me to do because I was his wife and I loved him dearly. I went as far as shutting out my family from my life because they thought Reynold was a nobody and they didn't want us together.

And they were right. I've been nothing but a foolish, naive girl for too long.

“Is she fit? Tell me she's fit.” I heard Reynold's voice outside the hospital room. He sounded too eager.

“Yes, Mr Reynold. Your wife is fit to donate her blood again.”came the doctor's response afterwards and a part of me was glad too.

“Thank Goodness,”Reynold seemed excited. “I want the blood transfusion on Layla to begin immediately, doc.”

“Of course. I'll be on it once your wife's blood is enough for Miss Layla's transfusion.”

I forced back the tears that were about to drop from my eyes. But it didn't work, I was too hurt, I felt used and I couldn't keep it in anymore. My emotions got out of control and I let the hot tears flow down my cheeks as I laid on the gurney in the hospital room while my blood was being sucked into a transparent bag through a drip.

The door flung open, Reynold walked in. I cleaned my eyes, trying to hide the tears but Reynold had seen it and he didn't care. He looked at me in a way that made me feel like trash. He never looked at me like that when we were dating in the past, when I had supported and chose him over my family. I willingly handed him all my fucking money.

But things drastically changed between us when he got tired of my barrenness. I couldn't give him a child for years and I was a disappointment to his family and the almighty reputation he built up, all because of me.

Reynold was quiet, he sat on the couch, looking at nothing else but the drip bag. He barely spoke to me ever since Layla stepped into our lives. And when we'd end up talking, it'd end up in an argument.

He glanced at the transparent bag frequently, hissing at every given chance. My blood continuously dropped into the bag. And Reynold seemed frustrated about how slowly it dropped.

“Fucking thing is too slow.” He muttered

“It's going to be filled up any moment.” I said, without staring at him.

“I'm not very patient, you know that. Especially when my unborn child's life is at stake here.”he responded without staring at me.

“If you are that worried, why are you here then? Shouldn't you go be with her and your unborn child?”

Reynold glared at me, he was furious than before when he entered. “The only reason I'm here is because the doctor is with her. So don't feel too special because all this is your fault anyways. ”Reynold turned his gaze away.

Typical.

There was silence between us again and the only noise in the room was the sound of the beeping machine.

“This is the last time I'm doing this.” I announced calmly.

Reynold looked at me again, his gaze skeptical this time, his brows raised. “And what are you talking about?”

Now I found the courage to stare at his little green eyes. “I'm done donating my blood for your little mistress.”

He scoffed, “Mistress? She's a surrogate in case you forgot. And hell yes you're done, for now, but if she happens to have issues again. You're going to donate your blood again and again until she gives birth. At least that's the only way you can help.”

I felt insulted by those last words.

“I can't give you a child, fine. I get it. Stop trying to make it look like I've committed a big crime. When indeed you're the one committing adultery.”

Reynold chuckled, but it sounded more like a mocking laughter. “Adultery? You're insane, Katherine.”That’s all he said and he looked away again.

Was I insane? I mean for a fact that Layla was a surrogate and of course Reynold had to impregnate her to get pregnant for us. Was I accusing him wrongly? Or was I just being blinded by love yet again?

No, I wasn't crazy. His actions spoke so loudly whenever he was with Layla and I've tried to understand for years that this is only a business transaction and nothing else. But I was fed up with trying to understand.

At long last, the transparent bag was filled with my blood and I was drained but Reynold was more concerned about Layla.

“Are you sure you're okay?” It was his third time asking Layla the same question. She sat in the front seat of the car while I sat behind.

“I'm fine, Reynold.” Layla, the pretty blonde said. The way his name had just flown out of her mouth was so disrespectful to me.

“Thank you.”she beamed at Reynold.

“Sure, anything for the mother of my child.” Reynold said, smiling.

Mother of his child.

I felt like a dagger twisted deeper into my heart.

I wasn't crazy, something was going on between them and they had the effrontery to showcase it right in front of me.

I sat behind the car calmly and finally we got home. I was going to take action, I wouldn't let Layla completely destroy my marriage. I wanted to start by taking her things out of I and Reynold's bedroom. But I was caught by Reynolds mother standing in the living room.

“Mum?” Reynold must have been surprised to see her too because she was supposed to be with his sick father. But my mother didn't respond, she walked towards me and hit my face with a slap.

“Mum? What's going on?” Reynold had come forward, trying to stop his mum from pulling my hair out of my skull. I cried out in pain. Reynold wasn't even trying.

“What has she done, mum?” he managed to ask after he had successfully pulled me away from his angry mother.

“Didn't you tell me she drank herself to stupor?” She asked Reynold. Then turned to me “Are you trying to ruin the chance of me getting my grandchildren? Huh, you monstrous godforsaken barren woman?”

I had begun to weep. “I'm sorry, mum.” I apologized with teary eyes and a shaky voice.

“Do not call me that. I'm not your mother, you stupid girl.”she yelled at me, sighing deeply before she moved her attention to Layla who stood there with her hands on her tummy like she was watching a telenovela. I knew she was enjoying all this drama low-key.

Reynold's mother smiled at Layla, petting her as she took her away towards the kitchen area, leaving Reynold and I in the living room.

“You told her? You of all people know she would react like this.”

“It's all your fault. You knew Layla's condition and you know how much she needs your blood but you go ahead to mess your blood with alcohol, and for what? Huh? To ruin every chance of hearing a baby's cry in this house. Don't be such a witch, Katherine.” After Reynold's intense queries, he just walked away.

A witch? I chuckled, wiping my tears. I had been called all sorts of names by Reynold and his mother. But a witch? That's something I wouldn't tolerate. It was time to set myself free from all these heartaches and maltreatment.